GED Social Studies : Content Areas

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Social Studies

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Effects Of World War Ii

The United States was the first country to use a(n) __________________ in warfare; the US used this weapon against the Japanese Empire in World War II.

Possible Answers:

Panzer Tank

Atomic Bomb

Carpet Bombing

None of these

Correct answer:

Atomic Bomb

Explanation:

"Atomic Bomb" is the correct answer. The United States became the first country to employ an atomic bomb in warfare, to great--if very controversial--success. The bombs dropped by the Enola Gay (the plane carrying both bombs) cause unprecedented destruction and eventually led to the surrender of the Japanese Empire, and the complete end of WWII.

Example Question #1 : Cold War

The Cold War was primarily a conflict between __________

Possible Answers:

democracy and socialism.

Europe and America.

the East and the West.

capitalism and communism.

fascism and capitalism.

Correct answer:

capitalism and communism.

Explanation:

The Cold War, which waged from the end of the Second World War until the fall of the Soviet Union, was primarily a conflict between capitalism and communism. It was essentially a conflict to see which economic system would become dominant in the world following the Second World War. The terms "democracy" and "socialism" are the two political systems that usually match with the economic systems of capitalism and communism, although it is possible to have a society that is both democratic and communist.

Example Question #2 : Communism, Socialism, And Capitalism

Who was the first leader of communist China?

Possible Answers:

Ye Jianying.

Mao Zedong.

Li Xiannian.

Pol Pot.

Deng Xiaoping.

Correct answer:

Mao Zedong.

Explanation:

The first leader of Communist China was Mao Zedong. Mao was the founder of the Chinese Communist Party and the first ruler of the People’s Republic of China, which he governed from 1949 until 1976—when he died. Mao is notable for his role in the Chinese Civil War, leading the attack against the nationalists led by Chiang Kai-Shek. He is also notable for committing numerous atrocities, such as the Cultural Revolution, and for instituting the Great Leap Forward, designed to modernize the Chinese economy and solidify the hold of communism.

Example Question #3 : Communism, Socialism, And Capitalism

Perestroika is the name given to __________

Possible Answers:

Leon Trotsky’s vision for a true communist society.

America’s policy of investing heavily in the space race following the Sputnik Crisis.

the declining influence of the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s.

Mikhail Gorbachev’s plans to restructure the Soviet economy.

Josef Stalin’s attempts to improve the Soviet economy.

Correct answer:

Mikhail Gorbachev’s plans to restructure the Soviet economy.

Explanation:

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, ushered the country out of the Cold War and into an era of reforms and diminishing influence. His two major reforms are referred to as Glasnost and Perestroika. Glasnost was Gorbachev’s attempts to allow for greater political freedom; Perestroika was his attempt to restructure the soviet economy.

Example Question #161 : Content Areas

Joseph McCarthy famously __________

Possible Answers:

undermined the Civil Rights movement with a series of Supreme Court rulings.

proposed a plan to rebuild the economies of Europe in the aftermath of World War Two.

led American forces to a catastrophic defeat in Vietnam.

led the crusade against prominent American communists.

ran for President on the platform of nuclear disarmament.

Correct answer:

led the crusade against prominent American communists.

Explanation:

Joseph McCarthy was a United States senator in the late 1940s and early 1950s who famously led the crusade against prominent American communists. This period of American history is often referred to as The Red Scare, and the policy of attacking any known or suspected communists in Congress is called McCarthyism.

Example Question #162 : Content Areas

The Nationalist Party in China was led by __________

Possible Answers:

Chiang Kai-Shek.

Deng Xiaoping

Emperor Hirohito.

Pol Pot.

Mao Zedong.

Correct answer:

Chiang Kai-Shek.

Explanation:

The Nationalist Party was led by Chiang Kai-Shek. During the Chinese Civil War the Nationalists faced off against the Communists, led by Mao Zedong. The Nationalists were eventually defeated and set up government in Taiwan.

Example Question #1 : Cold War

Which of these countries is not a member of NATO?

Possible Answers:

Britain.

Canada.

United States.

Turkey.

Russia.

Correct answer:

Russia.

Explanation:

NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization) emerged after the end of the Second World War as the primarily alliance of the capitalist world during the Cold War. It was opposed by the Warsaw Pact, which was signed by the various communist nations of Europe and the Soviet Union. The current state of Russia remains excluded from NATO.

Example Question #161 : Content Areas

The idea that two antagonistic countries possessing nuclear weapons actually lowers the probability of an outbreak of war is called __________.

Possible Answers:

Warsaw Pact

Nuclear Non-Aggression Pact

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Nuclear Non-Proliferation

Mutually Assured Destruction

Correct answer:

Mutually Assured Destruction

Explanation:

Mutually Assured Destruction is the term used to describe the nuclear relationship between the United States of America and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Essentially it suggests that because both nations possess stocks of nuclear weapons, warfare is considerably less likely, because if one nation launches a nuclear attack on another nation it will result in the destruction of both nations. Nuclear Non-Proliferation refers to an agreement that no new nations will be allowed to access nuclear weaponry.

Example Question #163 : Content Areas

Which of these best summarizes the idea of disarmament?

Possible Answers:

An agreement between two or more nations to reduce their supply of weapons

A piece of legislation designed to provide for greater religious toleration

The increased spending on the military that has occurred at various times throughout American history

The continuation of British political and legal traditions in the American republic

A policy designed to favor one social, ethnic, or religious group over another

Correct answer:

An agreement between two or more nations to reduce their supply of weapons

Explanation:

Disarmament is the term used to describe an agreement between two or more nations to downgrade their stockpile of weapons. Particularly, it is used to describe agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Example Question #4 : Cold War

In exchange for the Soviet Union removing its missiles from Cuba, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States was forced to remove missiles from __________.

Possible Answers:

Czechoslovakia

China

Poland

East Germany

Turkey

Correct answer:

Turkey

Explanation:

In exchange for the Soviet Union removing its missiles from Cuba, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States removed its missiles from Turkey. Its possible you did not know this information, but you should have been able to make a reasonable guess based on the answer choices available. Turkey was a major ally of the United States and Western Europe during the Cold War and was a member of NATO, whereas East Germany, China, Poland, and Czechoslovakia were all countries under either the direct control of the Soviet Union or, in the case of China, under a communist government.

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